District Council 37’s 2026 Legislative Agenda reflects the diverse voices of our members, united by a shared vision for a stronger, fairer New York City and a more secure future for working families.

Fix Tier 6

DC 37 supports the elimination of the Tier 6 contribution bands to set the employee contribution rate at 3% for all public employees.This reform would provide immediate financial relief to workers, restore fairness across generations of public employees, and strengthen the public sector’s ability to recruit and retain a skilled workforce.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regulation

DC 37 supports the following legislation to regulate AI and establish comprehensive guidelines and safeguards to prevent bias and discrimination.

The Boundaries on Technology Act (BOT) A3779 (Alvarez) regulates workplace electronic monitoring and AI decision-making by requiring transparency, employee access to collected data, safeguards against bias and exploitation, and meaningful human oversight.

New York Artificial Intelligence Act S1169A (Gonzalez)/ S8884 (Solages), which regulates the development and use of certain artificial intelligence systems to prevent algorithmic discrimination and requires independent audits of high-risk AI.

Protect Merit and Fitness in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Medicaid – Current federal attacks on labor could allow states to adopt outsourcing of these programs. We support the adoption of anti-privatization language to guarantee that civil service staff make eligibility determinations for SNAP and Medicaid programs.

Targeted Inflationary Increase for Direct Support Professionals

Our ask is to include a 4% targeted inflationary increase for nonprofit human services providers in the FY2027 New York State Budget, including Article VII language that directs a targeted 3% for wage increases for direct support professionals.

Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialist (SAPIS) Workers Funding

On behalf of Local 372, DC 37 strongly supports an increase in SAPIS funding to $6 million to restore and expand the SAPIS program to meet the growing needs of students and school communities.

Tax Increases on the Ultra-wealthy

DC 37 supportsincreasing New York’s top tax rates for those earning over $5 million and over $25 million to generate revenue to invest in public services that benefit working-class New Yorkers.

1% increase on income tax rates for individuals making $5- $25 million

1% increase on income tax rates for individuals making over $25 million

1.75% increase on the corporate tax rate

Healthcare

Opposition to the Health Equity for Retirees Act – DC 37 strongly opposes the passage of A9637 (Pheffer Amato) & A4639 (Pheffer Amato). We believe that these bills are unlawful under the Taylor and NYC Collective bargaining law violating our collective bargaining agreement. It eliminates choice, bypasses the bargaining process, and undermines our rights as our members’ union to negotiate some terms.

The Fair Pricing Act – DC 37 supports S705A (Kruger) /A2140A (Jackson) to cap prices for certain routine services at 150% of Medicare’s prices to ensure that routine outpatient services do not cost New Yorkers arbitrarily high prices as a result of hospital market power or consolidation in healthcare. 

Opposition to The Pharmacy Transparency Act – The bill S5939B (Skoufis)/ A5882B (McDonald) would impose unnecessary fees on millions of New Yorkers who are already struggling to afford their medications. Although the bill claims to improve access to pharmacies and increase transparency, in reality, it would raise the cost of medications and pharmacy benefit management.

Worker Safety

Strengthening Workplace Violence Prevention – DC 37 supports S7658 (Ramos)/ A8223 (Bronson) that will add more protections for public employees regarding workplace violence and require public employers to take specific action to prevent workplace violence by establishing enforcement provisions.

Workplace Violence Prevention in Libraries –  Recently libraries have seen an increase in threats and harassment that threaten the stability of the library community. We support S7993A (Ramos)/ A6903B (Bronson) to require every public library to establish a proactive violence prevention program, as well as training on de-escalation techniques and managing mental health crises.

Temperature Extreme Mitigation (TEMP) Act – DC 37 supports S3412 (Ramos) /A3527 (Bronson) to establish temperature protection standards and education, as well as training and reporting requirements for all employers to provide safe conditions for their employees.

Immigration

New York For All Act –  With the federal government adopting stricter immigration policies, fear DC 37 supports S2235B (Gounardes)/ A3506B (Reyes) that ensures appropriate use of state and local resources by limiting the use of state and local resources for immigration enforcement purposes.

Criminal Justice Reform

DC 37 supports the Earned Time Act S342 (Cooney)/ A1085 (Kelles), Second Look Act S158 (Salazar) / A1283 (Walker), and Marvin Mayfield Act S1209 (Myrie)/ A1297 (Meeks). These justice reform bills will allow incarcerated individuals to earn “good” or “earned” time to reduce their sentence, allow judges to review and reconsider individuals who were given lengthy sentences, and remove mandatory minimum requirements on sentences.

Financial Justice and Equity

The Stop Taking Our Paychecks (STOP) Act S8939 (Brouk)/ A9644 (Raga) – Payday loan apps target working people earning less than $50,000 per year, disproportionately burdening low-wage workers already struggling to make ends meet with illegal interest rates. The STOP Act would classify these types of wage or cash advance services as loans in definition, so that these companies cannot evade NY’s Usury Laws.

Supporting the Social Workers Workforce

The Social Work Workforce Act –  DC 37 supports S988 (Brouk)/ A701 (Gonzalez-Rojas), which would remove the requirement that applicants must pass a standardized entry-level exam to qualify to be a Licensed Master Social Worker. As we work towards a more equitable New York, eliminating a standardized exam that has no bearing on an individual’s performance as a social worker is necessary. 

Mental Health Support for First Responders

First Responder Peer Support Program Act- S5407A (Harckham)/ A7285A (Burdick). Our members of Local 5911, are the 911 Operators who are the first line of defense on many New Yorkers’ worst days. This legislation will establish a first responder peer support program to prioritize the mental well-being of state volunteers and first responders.